Dahlia plant named `Dapaor`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named `Dapaor`, characterized by its fully double dark orange inflorescences; uniform growth habit; dark green foliage; and strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis, and hereinafter referredto by the name `Dapaor`.

The new Dahlia is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of theyellow-flowered Dahlia variabilis `Margaret`, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 6,769. The new Dahlia was discovered by the Inventor in acontrolled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, within apopulation of plants of `Margaret`. The selection of this plant wasbased on its orange double flowers and compact plant habit in 1993.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia by terminal cuttings harvested inEnkhuizen, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisnew Dahlia are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Dahlia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Dapaor`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Dapaor` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Fully double dark orange inflorescences.

2. Dark green foliage.

3. Strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

The new Dahlia can be compared to the Dahlia cultivar `Simon`, disclosedin U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,770. However in side-by-side comparisonsconducted in West Chicago, Ill., plants of the new Dahlia differ fromplants of the cultivar `Simon` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Dahlia are broader and more freely branching thanplants of the cultivar `Simon`.

2. Plants of the new Dahlia have green-colored stems and petioleswhereas plants of the cultivar `Simon` have dark red purple-coloredstems and petioles.

3. Plants of the new Dahlia have larger leaves than plants of thecultivar `Simon`.

4. Plants of the new Dahlia are more floriferous although they havefewer ray and disc florets per inflorescence than plants of the cultivar`Simon`.

5. Ray florets of plants of the new Dahlia are darker orange than rayflorets of plants of the cultivar `Simon`.

6. Plants of the new Dahlia have shorter peduncles than plants of thecultivar `Simon`.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type. Thephotograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of thenew Dahlia. Ray floret and foliage colors may appear different from theactual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations and measurements describe plants grown inWest Chicago, Ill., in 10-cm containers in a glass greenhouse withaverage day temperatures about 20 to 22° C., average night temperaturesabout 18 to 20° C., and light levels about 2,500 to 3,000 foot-candles.Plants were planted about 4 weeks after propagating unrooted cuttingsand were pinched about three weeks after planting. Plants were in fullflower and descriptions were taken about 8 weeks after planting.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHoritcultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilit `Dapaor`.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Dahlia variabilis`Margaret`, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,769.

Propagation:

Type.--By terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 4 days with temperatures of 22° C.

Time to develop roots.--About 14 days with temperatures of 22° C.

Rooting habit.--Terminal cuttings propagate easily, roots fibrous, thickand well-branched.

Tubers.--Plants of the new Dahlia will form tubers under short dayconditions, that is at least 13 to 14 hours of darkness.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Pot plant and perennial garden plant. Upright and mounded,uniform growth habit, rounded apex. Vigorous. Appropriate for 10 to12.5-cm containers. Plants typically flower about 8 weeks after plantingrooted cuttings.

Plant height.--About 27 cm.

Plant spread.--About 24 cm.

Stem description.--Quantity: About four to six per plant. Basallybranching, however, plants typically require pinching to enhance lateralbranch development. Lateral branch length: About 14.5 cm. Lateral branchdiameter: About 6.1 mm. Internode length: About 2.25 cm. Texture:Smooth. Color: 144A.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Young foliage, leaves single; fullyexpanded foliage, leaves simple, occasionally compound and trifoliate;opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 14. Leafletlength: About 11.25 cm. Leaflet width: About 5.75 cm. Leaflet shape:Ovate. Leaflet apex: Acuminate. Leaflet base: Attenuate. Leaflet margin:Serrate to dentate with fine ciliation. Leaflet texture: Slightlyrugose. Petiole length: About 2.25 cm. Petiole diameter: About 3 mm.Color: Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 139A. Fully expandedfoliage, lower surface: 191A. Venation, both surfaces: 144C. Petiole:144C.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Fully double inflorescence form. Inflorescences generallyhemispherical and borne on terminals above foliage, arising from leafaxils on strong peduncles; inflorescences face upright and/or outward.Typically about one or two inflorescence per lateral stem; about 8 to 18inflorescences and buds per plant. Disc and ray florets arrangedacropetally on a capitulum. Persistent. Not fragrant.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flowerintermittently from July to October in the Northern Hemisphere.

Flower longevity.--Flowers last about one to two weeks on the plantdependent on temperature.

Flower bud (just before opening).--Shape: Spherical. Length: About 1.75cm. Diameter: About 1.75 cm. Color: Light green.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 8 cm. Depth (height): About 1.25cm. Disc diameter: About 1.5 cm.

Ray florets.--Quantity per inflorescence: About 60. Shape: Elongated,cupped. Length: About 3.1 cm. Width: About 2.25 cm. Apex: Pointed toslightly rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety.Color: Fully opened, upper surface: 33A; fading to 168C at apex. Fullyopened, lower surface: 167B.

Disc florets.--Elongated, cylindrical; shiny. Quantity: About 35 perinflorescence. Length: About 1.35 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Color,mature: 12A.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Erect and strong. Length: About 9 cm. Texture:Smooth. Color: 183C.

Involucral bracts.--Quantity: About 5. Diameter of bract whorl: About 3cm. Shape: Diamond-shaped. Tip: Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture:Smooth, shiny. Color, upper and lower surfaces: 137B.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium (Present on disc florets): Anther size:About 3.5 mm. Anther color: 1A. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:23A. Gynoecium (Present on ray and disc florets): Pistil length: About1.35 cm. Stigma color: 15A. Style color: 151C. Ovary color: 145B.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Dahlia diseases has not beenobserved on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named`Dapaor`, as